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Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford’s Clemency Record Fuels Gubernatorial Debate
By Drooid · · How we work
Clemency Votes Raise Questions in Nevada’s 2024 Governor Race
Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford has drawn intense scrutiny for supporting clemency for dozens of violent offenders, including individuals convicted of murder, kidnapping and “thrill killings.” The clemency decisions, made by the state Board of Pardons Commissioners—whose members include the governor, the attorney general and Nevada Supreme Court justices—allow some inmates earlier parole eligibility or reduced sentences. Ford’s record on these votes has become a focal point of his campaign to unseat incumbent Republican Governor Joe Lombardo.
Ford’s Record as Attorney General
Since taking office nearly eight years ago, Ford has positioned himself as a law-enforcement champion, highlighting prosecutions of corporate landlords, drug traffickers, child predators, fentanyl networks and illegal ghost-gun sales. Nonetheless, a review of state pardon hearings shows that Ford voted to grant clemency or sentence reductions for 30 murder convictions.
Scope of Clemency Actions
The review identified several high-profile cases:
- Michael Cu, who kidnapped and execution-style killed a 16-year-old in 1996, received a commutation that makes him parole-eligible in 2035.
- Shaquille Hazelwood, who killed a victim during an armed robbery at age 15, was granted parole eligibility in June 2022 after Ford described his vote as a “no-brainer.”
- Bobby Thomas, convicted of stabbing a 17-year-old to death, received a parole-eligibility hearing sponsored by Ford in September 2025.
- Anthony Amati, labeled a “thrill killer” for ambushing a Pizza Hut employee, became immediately eligible for parole after a June 2025 board decision supported by Ford.
Other clemency votes involved a carjacking murder, a basketball-game-related stabbing and a drug-deal-lure homicide. In at least one case—Arlander Givens, who beat a victim to death with a cinder block—the board denied clemency despite Ford’s support.
Campaign Narrative and Official Responses
Ford’s campaign website emphasizes his “crusader for public safety” image, citing successes such as ending a decades-long rape-kit backlog and prosecuting human traffickers. In hearings where he did speak, Ford expressed enthusiasm for granting parole eligibility, stating he “gleefully votes yes” for motions he believes merit a second chance. His office and campaign declined to comment when approached for further remarks.
Opposition and Public Backlash
Victims’ families and community members have voiced strong opposition. The mother of the 16-year-old victim in the Cu case pleaded with the judge that the perpetrators should never be released, expressing fear for other children. Deputy District Attorney Christopher Lalli argued that Amati’s “thrill killing” should preclude any parole eligibility. Critics, including local Democrats, have labeled the early-release policies as “dangerous,” noting that some inmates later faced new murder charges after being freed.
These clemency decisions remain a contentious issue as Nevada voters weigh public-safety credentials against calls for tougher sentencing in the upcoming gubernatorial election.